In the period from 1955 to 1968, the Civil Rights movement gained considerable momentum, ultimately resulting in the implementation of the Voting Rights Act and Fair Housing Act. However, there was a lot of injustice, sacrifices, and discrimination during these turbulent times due to the resistance from white supremacist groups (History, 2022). The murder of Emmett Till in 1955, the continual beatings of peaceful protesters, and the assassinations of the movement leaders are some of the notorious crimes committed by the government and hateful communities (History, 2022). Specifically, the lynching of Emmett Till was one of the early catalysts of the Civil Rights movement in 1955.
Recently, Bobby L. Rush commented on this tragic event, “That photograph shaped my consciousness as a Black man in America and changed the course of my life. And it changed our nation” (ChicagoCrusader, 2021). Consequently, the U.S. representative introduced the antilynching act to recognize lynching as a federal hate crime (ChicagoCrusader, 2021). Throughout contemporary American history, systematic racism has been one of the most significant social issues, and it is essential to develop additional regulations to make a positive change.
Some other notable events from 1955 to 1968 included peaceful protests and regulations. For instance, the Montgomery bus boycott and Little Rock Nine were the primary reasons for implementing the Civil Rights Act of 1957 (History, 2022). Consequently, “Freedom Ride” – a united effort of black and white activists against transportation restrictions – emphasized the problem of segregation in public transport (Dierenfield, 2021). The scope of the protests was gradually increasing, and the government was forced to implement the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and subsequent laws moderating systematic racism (Dierenfield, 2021). Ultimately, the Civil Rights movement from 1955 to 1968 was a turbulent but necessary period for America.
References
ChicagoCrusader. (2021). Rush statement on passage of Emmett Till Antilynching Act through house judiciary committee. Web.
Dierenfield, B. J. (2021). The Civil Rights movement: The black freedom struggle in America. Routledge.
History. (2022). Civil Rights movement. Web.